Telescoping tailgate with fourbar linkage for elevation drop

Abstract

A tailgate of a vehicle including a back portion and a seat portion, a telescopic mechanism including a first link, a second link, and a slotted link with a slot connected to the back portion of the tailgate allowing the tailgate to slide and pivot, and a four-bar mechanism including a third link and a fourth link hingedly connected to the back portion and the seat portion of the tailgate, wherein the telescopic mechanism and the four-bar mechanism allow the tailgate to transition between a first position, a second position, and a third position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tailgate of a vehicle comprising:
 a back portion; 
 a seat portion; 
 a telescopic mechanism including a first link, a second link, and a slotted link with a slot connected to the back portion of the tailgate allowing the tailgate to slide and pivot; and 
 a four-bar mechanism including a third link and a fourth link hingedly connected to the back portion and the seat portion of the tailgate, respectively, wherein the telescopic mechanism and the four-bar mechanism allow the tailgate to transition between a first position, a second position, and a third position. 
 
     
     
       2. The tailgate according to  claim 1 , further comprising a trigger connected to the back portion of the tailgate and slidably connected in the slot of the slotted link. 
     
     
       3. The tailgate according to  claim 1 , wherein a first end of the first link is hingedly connected to a first end of the slotted link and the second end of the first link is hingedly connected to a first end of the second link. 
     
     
       4. The tailgate according to  claim 1 , wherein the back portion of the tailgate is connected to a second end of the second link at a first location. 
     
     
       5. The tailgate according to  claim 4 , wherein the back portion of the tailgate is slidably connected in the slot of the slotted link at a second location different the first location. 
     
     
       6. The tailgate according to  claim 5 , wherein the tailgate slides relative to the slot from the first end of the slotted link to the second end of the slotted link while pivoting the first link and the second link in a fully extended state to occupy the third position. 
     
     
       7. The tailgate according to  claim 5 , wherein the tailgate pivots about the first location to transition from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
       8. The tailgate according to  claim 6 , wherein the seat portion of the tailgate pivots about the back portion of the tailgate pivoting the third link and the fourth link of the four-bar mechanism in a fully extended state to occupy the third position. 
     
     
       9. The tailgate according to  claim 8 , wherein, in the third position, the seat portion of the tailgate is below a height of a bed of the vehicle. 
     
     
       10. The tailgate according to  claim 8 , wherein the tailgate moves in a sequential manner from the first position to the second position and to the third position.